Ezekiel 21 5

Ezekiel 21:5 kjv

That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

Ezekiel 21:5 nkjv

that all flesh may know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore." '

Ezekiel 21:5 niv

Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.'

Ezekiel 21:5 esv

And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.

Ezekiel 21:5 nlt

Everyone in the world will know that I am the LORD. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.'

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 5 Meaning

This verse declares the absolute certainty and inevitability of God's judgment against Jerusalem. The "flame" and the "sword" are powerful metaphors for destruction and divine wrath. The verse emphasizes that the judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of sin and rebellion, signifying its finality.

Ezekiel 21 5 Context

Ezekiel 21:5 is part of a prophecy delivered by Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. The chapter is characterized by imagery of divine judgment, using a drawn sword as a primary metaphor. The "sword" represents the Babylonian army, the instrument of God's wrath against Judah for its sins. This prophecy is specifically directed at the final destruction of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah, signifying the end of an era and the consequence of persistent disobedience. The context is one of intense anticipation and fear as the siege tightened, making the pronouncements of doom deeply relevant to the immediate experience of the people.

Ezekiel 21 5 Word Analysis

• and I: "wa'anî" (וְאָנִי) - Emphasizes God's personal involvement and agency in the coming judgment.

• will send: "eshlaḥ" (אֶשְׁלַח) - Future tense, indicating a divinely ordained and directed action.

• forth: "mippi" (מִפִּי) - Literally "from the mouth," suggesting the judgment is spoken into existence by God's decree, as divine words carry power. This implies the judgment originates from God's pronouncements, not merely as a consequence of events.

• my: "lî" (לִי) - Possession, marking the sword as God's instrument.

• fire: "'esh" ('ֵשׁ) - A common biblical symbol for God's wrath, purification, and destructive judgment. It signifies intensity and completeness.

• and: "wə" (וְ) - Conjunction connecting two powerful symbols of judgment.

• sword: "ḥereḇ" (חֶרֶב) - Represents military might and execution of judgment by warfare and conquest, here specifically referring to the Babylonian army.

• and: "wə" (וְ) - Connects the sword with the action of destruction.

• shall be: "wəhūḡṯa" (וְהוּגְתָה) - Passive voice, emphasizing the action being done to the land, as directed by God.

• caused: "heṟbeṯî" (הֶחָרַבְתִּי) - To cause to be cut off, desolate, or destroyed; to cause to perish by the sword. This implies a forceful and thorough eradication.

• to cease: "heṟbeṯî" (הֶחָרַבְתִּי) - The root implies not just cutting, but bringing to an end, making desolate. It signifies utter destruction and absence.

• from: "miyyad" (מִ) - Denotes origin or agent.

• you: "‘al-" (‘ַל) - Pertaining to, over, upon; here referring to the land or people of Jerusalem.

• your: "miṭ‘artêḵ" (מִטַּעַרְתֵּךְ) - Refers to your forests, dense places, or your shoots/branches. In this context, it can imply the thoroughness of the destruction, cutting down everything, or metaphorically referring to the populous and fortified nature of the land that will be devastated. It could also allude to the "green tree" mentioned elsewhere, a symbol of life and vitality that will be consumed.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "my fire and my sword": This potent pairing emphasizes that the approaching destruction is not merely a human event but a divine mandate. God actively commissions these instruments of judgment. The imagery moves beyond physical warfare to represent spiritual and divine reckoning.
  • "I will cause to be cut off": This phrase conveys a thorough and absolute termination. It signifies that nothing will remain, no remnant or sign of flourishing life. The emphasis is on finality and desolation as the outcome of God's judgment.
  • "from you your forests": This connects the sweeping destruction to the very fabric of the land and its people. It speaks to the uprooting and devastation of what provides shelter, life, and prosperity. The singular "forests" ("mit'arteḵ") can imply the entire, dense network of the nation's life.

Ezekiel 21 5 Bonus Section

The Hebrew word "mit'arteḵ" (מִטַּעַרְתֵּךְ) is singular in form but often refers to something abundant or dense, like a forest or grove. Its usage here can be understood metaphorically for the thriving but ultimately corrupt populace and fortifications of Jerusalem. Some scholars interpret this word as having connotations of what is concealed or hidden, suggesting that judgment will unearth and destroy even what appears to be secure or flourishing in secrecy. The idea of God "causing to be cut off" aligns with other prophetic declarations of complete desolation for sinful nations.

Ezekiel 21 5 Commentary

The pronouncement that God will send "fire and sword" is not a threat but a certainty of impending judgment. This imagery reflects God's holiness reacting to unholiness. The mention of fire, alongside the sword (representing military action), underscores the multifaceted and complete nature of the divine punishment for Jerusalem's transgressions. The sword will not merely conquer but "cause to cease" from within the "forests" or shoots, implying that all life and prosperity will be eradicated, leaving the land utterly desolate. This speaks to a judgment that aims for complete obliteration of the rebellious elements, as determined by God.